Ray & Liz

Richard Billingham draws on his childhood in the West Midlands for Ray & Liz, a dramatized portrait of his parents and their family life. The film shares its autobiographical subject with his 1996 photographic book Ray's a Laugh, but develops that material through staged scenes and performances. Ray and Liz are Billingham's father and mother, with their relationship affecting both Richard and his younger brother Jason. Carefully observed domestic spaces carry much of the film's meaning.

Isolation and poverty shape routines, while neglect and strained relationships emerge through small actions as well as more troubling episodes. Its deliberate pace suits viewers interested in British social realism and the connection between photography and cinema. The distinctive visual approach comes from Billingham's attention to the household itself, allowing rooms and everyday objects to contribute to the account of family life.